Explosion Near Greek Central Bank Rocks Athens

Police bomb-disposal experts gather for evidence at the site of an explosion in the center of Athens, Greece, 10 April 2014. Photo by EPA/BGNES

A car bomb exploded in front of the Central Bank building in Greece's capital Athens. Damage was reported on neighboring buildings and shops up to 200 meters away, but no-one was injured, according to Greek newspaper Kathimerini's English website.

The perimeter around the bank was sealed off by police.

Prior to the explosion there were anonymous warning calls in the office of a Greek website reporting that a vehicle carrying 75 kg of detonating powder was currently parked in front of the Central Bank, with a device to be triggered in 45 minutes.

People living in the immediate neighborhood to the Central Bank were evacuated following the phone call.

A stolen car which was completely destroyed by the incident was later reported to have contained explosives.

The attack came short after it was announced that Greece was back on capital markets for the first time since 2010, after years of negotiating with international lenders and severe austerity measures in a push to mitigate the effect of a huge debt on the economy.

A visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the Greek capital is also due on Friday. Government Spokesman Simos Kedikoglou made clear that the cabinet perceived the attack as a threat to the country's policies.

"The perpetrators are clearly trying to change the agenda. We shall no allow the terrorists to achieve that aim." Kedioglou was quoted as saying.

Officials reported that the police were still looking for people behind the bombing. Such incidents have not been uncommon since the financial crisis sparked in Greece.